Film Clips: John Carter’s thousand friends with kids

• Dream Works
• Eddie Murphy will die if he talks too much in ‘A Thousand Words’

OPENING TODAY
ADDICTION INCORPORATED (PG) This documentary reveals how, in 1994, scientist Victor DeNoble became the first whistleblower to reveal the tobacco industry’s efforts to manufacture “a maximally addictive” product. Interviewees include former Philip Morris VP Steven C. Parrish and Jeffrey Wigand, subject of Michael Mann’s film The Insider’‘.
CORIOLANUS 5 stars (R) Ralph Fiennes’ affinity for playing wrathful, infuriated characters reaches its pinnacle with his contemporary adaptation of a lesser-known Shakespeare play. Fiennes plays a Roman superwarrior whose intensity on the battlefield earns him enemies when he plays politics at home. Fiennes’ direction of the script by John Logan (Hugo, Rango’‘) comfortably works Shakespearean exposition into CNN-style interview shows, while standouts in the excellent cast include Brian Cox and Vanessa Redgrave. — Curt Holman
FRIENDS WITH KIDS 2 stars (R ) A pair of platonic BFFs (Adam Scott and writer/director Jennifer Westfeldt) look at their friends’ angry marriages and resolve to have a baby together while remaining just friends. Nearly a Bridesmaids cast reunion (the other couples are played by Maya Rudolph, Chris O’Dowd, Kristen Wiig and Jon Hamm), the film features plenty of humor about baby poop and Kegel exercises, without Bridesmaids’ filthy inventiveness. Despite its low-budget, indie vibe, Friends With Kids’’ subscribes to the stereotypes of Hollywood rom-coms and punts the complex relationship issues it brings up. — Curt Holman
JOHN CARTER 2 stars (R ) In this adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classic sci-fi adventure, Civil War cavalryman turned Arizona prospector John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) finds himself transported to Mars, where he takes up the cause of Martian Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins, who’s like a classy Megan Fox) against a vicious warlord (Dominic West). “Friday Night Lights’” Taylor Kitsch brings laid-back charisma to a role that the film can’t seem to decide is a tortured hero or a charming rogue. John Carter proves too silly and rushed to work as a respectable fantasy epic, but too heavy and convoluted to achieve pure escapism. Pixar’s Andrew Stanton delivers astounding visual effects, including the hero’s ability to make incredible jumps in the Martian gravity, but John Carter’’ has a harder time getting off the ground. — Holman
IN DARKNESS (NR) One of this year’s Best Foreign Language Oscar nominees, this Holocaust drama depicts a sewer worker in a Polish city who uses his knowledge of underground tunnels to shelter a group of Jewish fugitives. Director Agnieska Holland helmed another terrific Holocaust-themed movie, Europa Europa’‘, in 1991.
’’SILENT HOUSE (R) The night Sarah (Elizabeth Olsen, the younger sister of the Olsen twins), and her father visit the family lake house, they hear sinister noises and suspect that they’re not alone. Torture, panic, blood and psychological terror ensue. This horror film is shot as a single 88 minute scene.
A THOUSAND WORDS (PG-13) Jerky literary agent Jack McCall (Eddie Murphy) fouls up a deal for a self-help guru, who plants a tree in Jack’s back yard. A leaf falls from the tree every time Jack utters a word, and once they’re all gone, Jack believes he will die. Sounds like Liar, Liar’’ with more pantomime and hand gestures.
DULY NOTED
THE BEYOND (1981) (R) A woman inherits a spooky hotel in Louisiana built over a portal that can bring the dead into the land of the living. One of the most acclaimed films from famed Italian horror director Lucio Fulci. Splatter Cinema. Tue., March 13, 9:30 p.m. $8. Plaza Theatre, 1049 Ponce de Leon Ave. 404-873-1939. www.plazaatlanta.com.’’
BONJOUR TRISTESSE (1954) Directed in CinemaScope by Otto Preminger, this drama depicts a young heiress (Jean Seberg) who resolves to break up the relationship between her playboy father (David Niven) and his new flame (Deborah Kerr). Sat., March 10. 8 p.m. High Museum, Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree St. $5-$7. 404-733-4200. www.high.org’’
DOGGIEWOGGIEZ! POOCHIEWOOCHIEZ! (NR) The viral video collective Everything is Terrible! presents a remake of the 1972 film The Holy Mountain rendered entirely with found footage of dogs. Sat., March 10, 10 p.m. $8. Plaza Theatre, 1049 Ponce de Leon Ave. 404-873-1939. www.plazaatlanta.com.’’
WILD AND SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL (NR) The Midtown Art Cinema plays host to the largest environmental film festival in North America, when the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, the Georgia River Network, and the Georgia Forest Watch all partner up for a program of “green” films. (Sold out.) Sun., March 11, 1 p.m. 931 Monroe Drive, Suite C-212. http://www.landmarktheatres.com.

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